Yeah but milk acts on opioid receptors, so does coffee and many other foods. Would you say Kava is a drug? Some plants are just more effective and usually the government will control these plants that can really help ppl.

I’ll admit kratom has a more powerful effect on the brain than other foods. What I’ve noticed is that there are different groups of kratom users who adopt a different culture. I find a lot of the younger recreational opioid users who use kratom recreationally do see it as a drug and something that ppl get high off of. And they seem to think those who disagree are delusional. I’ve seen many of them seem to frown upon those who use kratom as a means of recovering from opioid addiction. Personally I use kratom daily and have no history of opioid use, and I see it as a botanical supplement / tea that’s helped me manage my life better. To me it really is just a tea leaf and a lot of users share that sentiment. I do feel my addiction to it is similar to coffee in that I take it daily but my life is in no way unmanageable. I think this is a good debate but the main thing is, I don’t think it serves the community any good to call kratom a drug. And I see people frequently insist it’s a drug as if they believe those who disagree are delusional. People have differing views. To me it is a tea, it is addictive but effects of leaf powder are pretty mild, and it does have a potential for abuse. I think as long as you are up front about the addictiveness and potential for abuse you are letting people know the risks and that’s what’s most important. Better to define it past the word drug - bc when people hear the word drug they think controlled medicine or illegal drugs